Furniture clamp



Aug. 7, 1923.

J.M.LANCASTER' I FURNITURE CLAMP Filed Jan. 10. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1 v Qg KO 1 Q; I. I

' JJKfiWZan ATTORNEY Aug. 7, @1923. I

I J. M. LANCASTER FURN ITURE CLAMP Filed Jan. 10, 1922 5 Sheets-$heet 2 ATTOR N EIY Aug. 7, 19 23.

.J. M. LANCASTER FURN ITURE CLAMP 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z/lrl/47/lllVlaldrlllalla Filed Jan; 10

. 1 WITNESSES Patented Aug. 7, 1%23.

siren s e tsetse JETER M. LANCASTER, OF HIGH POINT, NOBTHCAROLINA.

FURNITURE CLAMIP.

Application filed January 10, 1922. Serial No. 528,189.

T 0 all whom it mag concern.

Be it known that I, Jnrnn M. LANCASTER,

a citizen of the United States residing at High Point, in the county of -J ilford and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Furniture Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furniture clamps, and has for its object the provision of a new and improved frame having plurality of adjustable clamping means, whereby the as sembled parts of a panel of a cupboard,

cabinet, dresser, chiffonier or any other kind of furniture, or ordinary doors,- may be securely clamped together in a plurality of directions, in order to f0 an close fitting joints, and at the same time to automatically square the panel. to form a true and uniform product. 7 I 7 His a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable or movable supporting base for the furniture whereby it is un necessary to employ blocks or strips of wood for building up or elevating certain parts of the furniture because of the various forms of curved or carved legs forming part of the furniture.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however,-that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications-marl; no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings 2- Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved furniture clamp. r

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is an end View. of the furniture clamp. l' w 7 Fig. 51s a transverse section taken along the line 5'5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the end clamping member, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates standards or legs vertically mounted at the four corners of the clamping device, having end brace bars 2 connecting pairs of the adjacent end standards 1', and a longitudinal transverse beam 3 connecting the end brace bars 2 at a point intermediate their ends. Side bars or beams 4 connect the upper ends of the standards 1 and form part of each side of the clamping frame.

The clamping frame is mounted upon the upper ends of the posts or standards 1, and comprises end members 5 and 6 spaced from each other by the longitudinal side members 7, the end member 5 having its ends secured between the side members 4 and 7, (Fig. 4:).

Screw-threaded rods 8 and 9 are respectively mounted between the end members 5 and 6. and secured in position by means of nuts drawn-up tight against washers placed between the nuts and the ends of the longi tudinal side members 7. Slidably mounted their ends upon the screw-threaded rods 8 and 9 are longitudinal side clamping bars 10 and 11 having their outer ends projecting between the spaced end bars 5 and 6. Vheels 12 having an internally screw-threaded central perforation are mounted on. the rods 8 and 9 and are adapted to be adjusted towards each other between the side clamping members 10 and 11. Coil springs 13 are located between the respective side nieml ers 10 and 11 and the wheels 12. As the wheels are adjusted along the rods 8 and 9 towards the respective side clamping members 10 and 1.1, the tension of the springs 13 is increased or diminished in order to vary the force of the springs for moving the side clamping members 10 and 11 outwardlv towards the longitudinalmembers 7 of the frame. I

A. pair of screw shafts 14 are mounted in transverse passages in each longitudinal. side member 7 and provided with rand wheels 15 for rotating said screws. Nuts 16 are secured to the inner faces of the longitudinal side members 7, and in alinement with the transverse passages in the side members 7 so that as the hand wheels 15 are operated, the threads of the screws 14; meshing with the internally threaded passages in the nuts 16, will cause the inner end of the screws 14 to move in or out toward or from the clamping members 10 or 11, depending upon the direction of rotation of the wheels 15. Blocks 17 of any approved construction and material are Secured in the outer longitudinal slde faces of the clamping members 10 and 11, so that the central portion of .19 formed in the opposite end members 5 of- On the end of the the clamping frame. I screw shaft 18 isprovided a hand wheel-2O for rotating the shaft 18. At the other end of said screw 18 is provided an end clamping member comprising a block 21 having ascrew-threaded passage in its lower end en- 2 ing device.

gaged by the threads of the shaft 18.- The block 21 is provided withspaced transverse passages above the shaft 18, in which are secured the spaced transverse guide bars122 and 23. Similar blocks 24 and 25 spaced upon opposite sides of the block 21 have spaced transverse passages through which are inserted the transverse guide bars 22 and 23., Slidably mounted upon the bars 22, 23 at opposite sides of the respective blocks 24 and 25 are furniture stops 26 and 27 which are movable towards and away from each other by the movement of the members 10 and 11.

The blocks 24 and 25 are provided with horizontal passages through which are inserted rods 28 and 29, extending longitudinally of the frame and screwthreaded for a portion of their length. Each rod extends outwardly and between, the spaced end members 5 and 6 of the frame and inwardly beyond the blocks 24, and 25, and are then bent downwardly at right angles, as shown at 30, and then forwardly at right angles to the bent portion 30 and secured at 31 to a transverse bar 32 forming part of the supporting base of the furniture clamp- VVheels 33 having a screw-threaded central perforation engage the screwthreads of the rods 28 and 29, and are adapted to be screwed up-againstthe blocks 24 and 25. A coil spring 34 surrounds the inner end of eachrod 28 or 29, and is held under tension by means of the wheel 35. V l

The bar 32 is providedwith a central to be moved longitudinall,

to be clamped inthe device. All the bars 32, 87, 38 and 39, have their outer ends located between the longitudinal side members 4 and 7 of the clamping-frame and are slidable therebetween' Bars 37 and 3-8 are provided with transverse central passages 40 having a screw-threaded engagementwith the threads of the shaft 18, and are adapted of the frame when the shaft 18 is rotate The base bar 39 is provided with a central transverse passage 36 which is sufliciently large in 'diameter to permit the shaft 18 to rotate within the passage but nevertheless allows the bar 39 to slide between the ends of the side -mem bers 4 and? and on theshaft 18; The floor bar 32 is adapted to move towards one end of'the frame simultaneously with the bars or beams 37 and 38, since the rods 28 and 29 connect beam 32 respectively with blocks 24 and 25 which move simultaneously with block 21 by reason of their connection with the guides 22 and 23, block21 being move by the rotation of the screw 18.

Slidably mounted upon one end of the frame, or more particularly upon the end members 5 and 6, are furniture stops 41 located between the side clamping members 10 and 11 and movable towards and away from each other. r r

The stops 41, like the furniture-stops26 and27, are movable towards eachcother 1 along their respective guides by the side clamping members 10 and -11, when the latter are moved towards each other as the hand wheels 15- are rotated to screws 14 inwardly. I

When it is desired to clamp a certain number of panels withtheir intermediate stays or reinforcingmembers to the side posts of-one section of a piece of furniture,

force the nally of the clampingframe withone edge in engagement with the inner edges ofthe clamping members 10 and 11. I The ends the posts are placed in position longitudir of the panel are placed transversely of the frame and have their outer ends, which have been previouslytreated with glue, po-f sitioned within the usual slots formedlom gitudinally in one face of the posts. The

upper ends of the posts arein engagement with the furniture stops 41, while the lower ends or feet of the posts are placed in alinement with the furniture stops'26' and 27, the posts being supported by the, floor beams 32,37, 38 and 39, The open space between the end -member 5 and the floor-beam 32 will receive the curved or carved portions of the leg of the post, and therefore no boards will be necessary toelevate the posts above the floor space because of the decorative portion of a post being outside of the I positioned with the lower edge of said panel in engagement'with the bent portion 30 of the rods 28 and '29. f

Since the base supporting bar 32 is connected to the rods 28 and 29, this bar will be moved outwardly with the rods towards the end of the frame, but nevertheless in supporting relation with the posts of the part of the furniture vto be clamped. To operate the endclamping member, it is only necessary to rotate the hand wheel 20 for rotating the shaft 18, when the threads of said shaft will engage the threads of the passage through which said shaftpasses, and cause the end clamping member to be drawn towards the piece of furniture until the furniture-stops 26 and 27 will be seated against the feet of the side posts. It will be seen that the posts are clamped between the stops 41 upon one end of the frame and the stops 26 and27 at the other end of the frame, whilethe side edges of the post will be in" engaging position with the. inner edges of the side clamping members and 11. i As the hand wheels are rotated upon one side of the clamping frame, the posts will be moved towards each other, forcing the ends of the panels snugly within the slotted portions of the posts. The down wardly-bent members'30 will be drawn up tight against the bottom edge of the lower panel, while the respective furniture engaging members located upon the opposite ends of the frame will be drawn uptight against the ends of'the post as the hand wheel is rotated.

' By reason of the movement of the'several clamping members in directionswhichare at right angles to each other, it will be seen that the panel of the furniture will be properly squared and held true, and the posts of the panel will not be displaced when nailsor screws are applied in the necessary places. i

In placing the panel in the clamping frame, the clamping "member 11 may be properly positioned by rotating the hand wheels 15, so' that it will be only necessary ing to operate the side handwheels for moving the clamping member 10 into engaging position with one post of thepanel, the other post of the panel having been placed in engagement with the clamping member 11.

If it be desired to'clamp panels in posts which have a considerably shorter length than the clamping frame, the-hand wheel 20 may be rotated, whereby the floor bars 37 and 38, and likewise the floor bar 32 byreason'of its connection with the blocks 24, 25, will be moved towards the end of the frame where the hand wheel 20 is located, thus shortening the space between that end of the frame and the end clamping member. The blocks 24 and being slidably mounted on the guides 22 and 23of the clamping frame, will be moved with the block 21, since the blocks 21, '2 and 25 and the guides 22 and 23 form the end As the screw shaft 18 is clamping frame. rotated by the handwheel 20, it will engage the threads of the threaded passage in the block 21 and thereby cause the block 21 and the end clamping frame to move to-' ward the other end of the clamping frame.

The side clamping members '10 and 11 are moved towards each otherv by the hand wheels 15 in the same manner as has been described. The side clamping members 10 andll may approach each other and move the furniture engaging members towards the center of the frame, since these side clampmembers are sufliciently thin to slide between the transverse guides 22 and 23.

The particular advantage of this clamp resides in the movable bed made up of the spaced bars 32, 37, 38 and 39, which bed always leaves free the feeton the post of the article of furniture. A clamp with a solid stationary beddoes not possess this advantage, but has to be built up with pieces I under the post to hold the foot of'the post dresser or chiffonier end are clamped level and square at top, without the use of a hammer. This clamp, if made larger, will also clamp beds.

What is claimed is P 1. A furniture clamp comprisinga pair of oppositely-disposed side clamping members, anend clamping member movable between the pairof side clamping members and a movable base composed of aseries of spaced bars which are arranged for movement toward and from each other, one of said bars being connected to and movable by the end clamping member.

2. A furniture clamp comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed side clamping members, an end clamping member movable between the pair of oppositely-disposed clamping members, and a base member movable I and abase' member movable longitudinally of the side-clamping members and simullongitudinally of the side clamping members, said base member including a plurality of transverse horizontal bars,,one of said bars being connected with'the end clamping member.

3.,A furnitureclamp comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed side clamping member s,'an end clamping member movable between the pair of side clamping members,

taneously with the end clampin member,

said base member including a p-urality of transverse horizontalbars spaced from the end clamping member and from each other,

one of said bars being independently adjustable toward and away from the end clamping member. V 4:. Affurnitureclamp comprisingc'clampr ing members mounted on a frame for clampmg'the s des'of a piece of furniture, a sup porting base comprising a plurality of spaced bars, and a longitudinal screw upon which said bars are mounted, saidbase-being' movable as a unit longitudinally of the frame by therotatio'n of said screw, and one of the bars being independently adjustable toward and awayfrom the other members.

5. Afurniture clamp comprising apair of oppositely-disposed side clampingomembers, an end clamping member movable between the side clamping members at' a right angle tothe movement of the side clamping members, a supporting base comprising a plurality ,of bars, means for moving. said bars simultaneously with the end clamping member and in the same direction, one of said bars being movable independently of.

the end clamping member, and means for maintaining said bar in spaced relation with the end clamping member.

6. A furniture clamp comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed side clamping memhere, an end clamping member movable between the side clamping members] at a right angle to the movement of the sideclamping members, a supporting base comprising a plurality-of-bars, means for moving said bars simultaneously with the end clamping member in the same direction, and means for moving one of said bars independently of the end clamping member.

, clamping movable transversely of the frame, an end clamping member movable between the side members, furniture gripping means slldably mounted onthe endclamp- 'ing member and adjusted inwardly by the inward movement of the side clamping members are moved toward each other, re: silientmeans tending to restrain movement of the side clamping memberstowards each other and toreturn said side clampingmenr hers to their outer position, and a base member connected tov the end clamping member and movable thereby longitudinally of the frame." 7 i f 9. In a furniture clamp, a frame comprising end bars and sidebars having their adjacent ends connected'together, a pair of oppositely-disposed side clamping members movable transversely, of the frame, an end clamping member movable between the side. 7

clamping members, resilient means'tending to'restrain movement of the side; clamping members towards each other and to return said side clamping members to'the'ir normal position, a'base member comprising a pin rality of bars slidably. mounted for longitudinal movement on the side members of the frame, means for moving all of said bars simultaneously with the end clamping member, and means for independently adjusting the bar-nearest the end clamp toward: and away from said clamp. V

V 10. In a furniture clamp, a frame com prising end bars andside bars having their adjacent ends connected together, a p'a ir of oppositely-disposed side clamping members movable transversely of the frame,an end clamping member movable between the side clamping members longitudinally thereof, a base member movable longitudinally of the frame, said base comprising a plurality of bars slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the side members of the frame, means for moving all of said bars simultaneously with the end clamping member, and means for independently adjusting the bar nearest the endclamp toward and away from said clamp. 1 p 7 11. A- furniture clamp, comprising a" frame, side clamping members, an endv clamping member movable between the side clamping members, means slidably mounted on the end clamping member for engaging the feet of the posts'of apaneliof furniture, and means on the end clamping: member movable transversely of thesliding move ment of the feet-engaging 1 means for engaging an edge of the panel of the furniture, 12. A furniture clamp, comprising a frame, side clamping members, an end clamping member movable between the side clamping members and mounted on the frame, means slidably mounted on the end clamping member for engaging the feet of furniture, and resilient means on the end clamping member movable transversely of the sliding movement of the feet-engaging 5 means for engaging an edge of the panel of the furniture, the feet-engaging means and the panel-engaging means being movable with the end clamping member and independently of each other and also independently of the end clamping member.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

JETER M. LANCASTER. 

